She was 'slightly robotic, yet clearly feminine' -- and she knew just where he needed to go!

Pioneer Press

Posted:
01/09/2013 12:01:00 AM CST

Updated:
01/09/2013 05:38:26 PM CST

Writes The Poster Boy for Fidgeting: "In Tuesday's Bulletin Board, Rusty of St. Paul reported on a highfalutin pleasure he experienced with his new smart phone, which prompts me to tell my story about the wonders of smart-phone technology.

"Over the winter break, my family and I took two weeks off and enjoyed the wonders of Hawaii. I rented a motorcycle for a week to explore the Big Island, where we spent the first half of our vacation.

"The highfalutin pleasure was the new Bluetooth unit I had installed in my helmet before I left St. Paul, and which I had connected ('paired') wirelessly to my smart phone.

"So, while I explored the many unique features of this very volcanic island, I could listen to my favorite music, transmitted to my in-helmet ear pads from the smart phone I carried in the breast pocket of my riding jacket. That in itself was good, and it provided much-needed entertainment on the days I rode more than 200 miles (the Big Island of Hawaii is pretty darn big, as islands go).

"But the icing on the cake was when I was returning, late and after dark, to the town where the rest of my family was based. My son phoned me to tell me about our dinner plans. To answer his call, I didn't have to quickly find a safe place to pull off the road, whip my phone out of my pocket, and try to slip it up into my full-face helmet before his call went to voice mail. No, I merely had to say 'Hello' into the Bluetooth microphone mounted on the inside of my helmet.

"After telling me the name of the restaurant, and the time of our dinner reservations, my son started to give me directions to the restaurant.

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I thanked him, but told him that I had that covered. I merely tapped the button on the small Bluetooth unit clipped onto the left side of my helmet, and began to issue voice commands to my smart phone. 'Directions to Kona Brewing Company restaurant,' I intoned. Soon, a slightly robotic, yet clearly feminine voice started to give me step-by-step directions, updated via GPS technology, as I rode toward my destination. All this was done seamlessly and virtually without distraction zooming down the road at 60 mph (remember, I was late).

"With that good information at hand -- or rather, at ear -- I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant right on time, just as the other family members were showing up.

"How cool was that?"

Today's helpful hint

Tim Torkildson: "If you want something done right, ask an old person how it used to be done."

Gee, our old La Salle ran great!

Downtown Department Stores Division

Bird Burke: "My memory of the Dayton's Teen Board: 1966 to 1967, I was on it -- and we got to spend the night at Dayton's. We were on the third floor. That was where the records were, and furniture. We got to dance to the music of The Animals, and to different records that they had there. We had just a wonderful time. That's the best memory."

Life as we know it

Friday email from Joan of ARKatect: "Subject: Macy's and I are leaving downtown!

"Today is my last day working in the job I've had for 15 years. My new job starts on Monday.

"Has anyone ever said that some of the longest two weeks you will ever have are the two weeks at work when you have given your notice? Awwwwkwarrrrrd. I've had to sit for over a week in my cleaned-out office, which looks as if it was stripped by the Grinch and I was a Who at Christmas. (Yes, even the walls are bare, with only a nail or two to evidence where my pictures were hung.) I have felt all week like I was once a part of that puzzle, but now I am not.

"I told my husband I was sad about not only leaving friends behind, but leaving all my careful organization of work and files behind and stepping out into the great unknown to start from scratch. He told me about a movie he had seen about a guy who was about to retire, and he was training in his replacement. He showed the replacement all his carefully organized files and laboriously went over with him what was in each and every file. So the guy drives by his work a few days after he is retired and gone from the office and sees his boxes stacked by the Dumpster! (Wait a minute! Was this story supposed to make me feel better?!)

"Leaving a job means looking ahead with some excitement and fear and maybe wondering a little: 'Why is it again I am doing this?' "

Our times

Or: Hmmmmmmmm (responsorial)

John in Highland: "Subject: 'No problem' is universal.

"Mr. Bones' comments regarding the 'No problem' response (January 9) come as no surprise. On my most recent vacation in Germany, I wanted to get a picture of a friend and me in front of the beautiful castle overlooking downtown WÃ 1/4rzburg. I asked, in German, of a gentleman passing by if he could take a photo of us. He obliged and, expecting the traditional 'Thank you ... You're welcome,' I awaited the 'Bitte' to my 'Danke.'

" 'Kein Problem,' he replied."

Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon?

The Stubborn German from St. Paul: "I believe I have encountered an elusive Baader-Meinhof.

"Yesterday evening, prior to watching the season's premiere of 'Downton Abbey,' my husband and I caught Channel 2's telecast about Highclere Castle, the setting used for 'Downton Abbey.' During the broadcast, I heard for the first time the name for those ornamental garden buildings found on old English estates: follies.

"When I awoke early this morning, I picked up an Agatha Christie from my nightstand. On Page 23 of 'Dead Man's Folly,' the author explains the presence of the young architect Michael Wevman: 'He's designing a tennis pavilion for Sir George and repairing the Folly.'

"Poirot: 'Folly? What is that -- a masquerade?'

"Ariadne Oliver: 'No, it's architectural. One of those little sort of temple things, white, with columns.'

"I'm currently on a Christie jag and had received several used paperbacks in my 'Christmas stocking.' I was delighted to come across this, to me, new definition of folly in the short period of time between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.

"I await your determination. Baader-Meinhof?"

BULLETIN BOARD RULES: Yes. Indubitably. For us to argue otherwise would be folly!

What this state has been needing?

Busy B from the Garden: "I liked the article on the 'McUffda,' the portable Norwegian meatballs and lefse.

"Bulletin Board items often inspire me, and that one, oddly enough, did just that. Recently I was thinking of how I would like a Juicy Lucy burger. When the family got together, however, everyone decided to go get sushi instead. OK, fine, I can be a good sport and go along.

"I suddenly thought: 'Why not a "Sushi Lucy"?' How Asian fusion is that? There isn't a law that hamburger and cheese can't go into the little sushi wrappers. I don't know how good it would taste, but personally I like the name.

"Minnesota State Fair booth applications -- here we come, right after the McUffda folks!"

The darnedest things

WARNING! Cute kid story ahead, from Gramma Cindy of St. Paul: "Li'l' Jaeley Rose, my 5-year-old granddaughter, was recently visiting with me while I was recovering from surgery. She told me I was looking much better and then added: 'Gramma, remember all the good times we used to have before the doctor cut you open?' She indeed is my little sweetheart!"